Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Trends in Ecology and Evolution

A new paper from the University of Melbourne reveals how animals use beautiful but unreliable iridescent colours as communication signals. Special adaptations enable animals to control how these shifting colours appear so that they can convey Read more about Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?

Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

A new report “COVID-19: Impact on routine childhood vaccination uptake in Australia” released today by NCIRS found no substantial impact on vaccination uptake at any of the National Immunisation Program schedule points. Read more about Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

World-first skin cancer treatment aims to help transplant patients

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

A new medication which can be applied to the skin could help prevent organ transplant recipients from developing harmful skin cancers. Read more about World-first skin cancer treatment aims to help transplant patients

Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Nature Communications

Research led by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland has shown for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung condition, and the gut Read more about Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease

Alzheimer’s disease drug may help fight against antibiotic resistance

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science Translational Medicine

An experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment is proving effective at treating some of the most persistent, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers from The University of Queensland, The University of Melbourne and Griffith Read more about Alzheimer’s disease drug may help fight against antibiotic resistance

Emotional responses to music - without a sound

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Music prompts strong emotional responses in people – but often it’s not just the sounds that shape what emotion we experience. Many inbuilt expectations and preferences set up our emotional framework for music, even notions that don’t even Read more about Emotional responses to music - without a sound

New hope for tinnitus sufferers

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Australian researchers have developed a new technology to objectively measure tinnitus, according to a study published on November 18th in the journal PLOS ONE. Read more about New hope for tinnitus sufferers

Super-resolution 'street view' microscopy hits the SPOT

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

An advanced technique called SPOT is giving researchers a 'street view' of the vital lipid membranes surrounding organelles. This opens up opportunities to study the sophisticated world of lipid dynamics with the potential for monitoring and Read more about Super-resolution 'street view' microscopy hits the SPOT

EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1534 AEDT | 1734 NZDT

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has this afternoon announced the state will begin a 6-day lockdown from midnight tonight. Schools, restaurants, sport, weddings and funerals are amongst those to be closed or banned. The measure, described Read more about EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response

Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1244 AEDT | 1444 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

A COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on an inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found to be safe and induce an antibody response in healthy volunteers, results from a phase I and II trial have shown. The vaccine, known as 'CoronaVac', was Read more about Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response